The Benefits of Atmospheric Plasma Treatment
There are many industries that utilize atmospheric plasma treatment, also known as in-air treatment, to bolster their manufacturing processes. This method involves molecular-level chemical changes to materials, specialized equipment and machines, and the production of atmospheric plasma.
And while it may sound overly complex and potentially expensive, there’s no denying that it provides businesses around the world with plenty of benefits. From small factors like increased workflow and efficiency all the way to significantly higher profits, it’s worth learning about and investing in your own atmospheric plasma treatment machine. Read on to learn about the atmospheric plasma treatment process and how it can increase your success.
UNDERSTANDING ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA TREATMENT
Before diving into the many benefits of atmospheric plasma treatment, you must completely understand the basics of this process and how it functions. To summarize atmospheric plasma treatment in the simplest terms possible, it increases the wetting properties of various surfaces. These materials include rubber, metals, glass, paperboard, ceramics, polymeric objects, and more. Wetting properties refers to the balance between adhesion and cohesion. More specifically, the bonding capabilities associated with a particular surface.
Atmospheric plasma treatment, typically used in manufacturing industries (medical/pharmaceutical, aerospace, automotive, solar production, etc.), modifies materials with poor wetting properties at a molecular level without damaging the object. Atmospheric plasma is generated from reactive gas molecules combined with an electric field—the result is a highly ionized field that gets directed to the surface of the material. From this, the thermal properties associated with atmospheric plasma break apart hydrogen bonds (through introducing oxygen), and you’re left with a far better surface for bonding!
BENEFIT I: WETTING SURFACES
Why exactly are surfaces with increased wettability better for manufacturing? Based on the science behind atmospheric plasma treatments, treated surfaces gain better bonding properties because they feature more areas for substrates to contact. And many of the materials that benefit from this plasma treatment often lack these preferred characteristics from the start. As such, any device that can provide this boost in bonding properties is only beneficial to the manufacturing process. For some industries, like electronics manufacturing, this benefit is essential to providing desired results.
BENEFIT II: NO DAMAGE
Atmospheric plasma treatment is so accurate and precise that it won’t cause any damage to materials. That’s because the changes of the surface occur on a molecular level, only altering the bonding characteristics of any given material. Many of these manufactured materials require delicate treatment processes to ensure successful results, so having a sure-fire method for altering items without causing damage is invaluable for any business.
BENEFIT III: SANITATION
One of the best benefits related to atmospheric plasma treatment is how well it sanitizes surfaces. In fact, having a completely clean surface free of residue, organic materials, impurities, and contaminants is essential when you want to increase the wetting characteristics. Atmospheric plasma treatment involves a process known as micro etching/cleaning.
This process effectively removes the above-listed impurities without using additional labor, steps, or chemicals. As an added bonus, micro etching/cleaning is environmentally friendly, economically safe, energy-efficient, and 100 percent accurate. Accuracy is one aspect that many industries, especially pharmaceuticals and medical device manufacturing, require to meet strict industry standards and regulations.
BENEFIT IV: SUPERIOR TO CORONA TREATMENT
When it comes to increasing surface wetting characteristics, there are other methods you can use. Mainly, corona treatment, which is a similar process to plasma treatment but only ionizes air. Corona treatment is arguably cheaper than atmospheric plasma treatment, but often it doesn’t produce the same accurate and efficient results. Corona treatment is also less effective at sanitizing surfaces. Investing in a quality plasma treatment machine will save you more money down the road and, most importantly, ensures your products are easy to manufacture.
BENEFIT V: FLEXIBILITY
Atmospheric plasma is suitable for conductive, semi-conductive, and non-conductive purposes. Basically, no matter the requirements of a given job, your machine is highly capable of adjusting without sacrificing performance or efficiency.
Plasma treatment is also applicable in many different processes, including treating silicone foam before implementing adhesives, rubber profiles before printing or coating, and painting or printing onto pipes, cables, plastic components, and other related parts. As mentioned before, countless industries benefit from this form of treatment. Ultimately, you can rest knowing that your manufacturing needs are met by implementing an atmospheric plasma treatment.
BENEFIT VI: REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
We’ve mentioned that atmospheric plasma treatment is more environmentally friendly than other treatment processes, but it’s worth exploring this benefit more. This is true because plasma is a sustainable resource that’s highly energy efficient. It can clean surfaces without the use of chemicals, which have the potential to run off into the environment, negatively impacting the surrounding ecosystems. Reducing environmental impact helps the planet and saves you money on energy consumption. You might even boost your business’s reputation as being conscious of pressing issues.
BENEFIT VII: BUSINESS SUCCESS
When you combine all of these factors into one, you see the biggest benefit of all–increased business success! And it’s quite simple to understand, as this form of surface treatment optimizes manufacturing processes across the board. This improves your final products and, in turn, increases client satisfaction and the reputation of your business.
It also eliminates work stoppages and some human labor, saving on operating costs while also reducing the odds of workplace accidents caused by human error. And perhaps most importantly, the energy-efficient, exact, and sustainable nature of atmospheric plasma treatment means you’ll spend less on resources and limit your negative environmental impact. All-in-all, atmospheric plasma treatment can boost your bottom line.
There are nearly zero drawbacks to investing in atmospheric plasma treatment for your business, and the rewards are absolutely worth considering. The machines are very user-friendly and reliable, limiting the costs of training and device maintenance. You can order a plasma treatment device from Tri-Star Technologies today and instantly see the benefits. Browse our quality selection and find the machine that’s best for you. Not sure which one will meet your needs? Contact our friendly team today, and we can help you with your purchase to ensure total satisfaction.
